Mecosta County 4-H
Market Beef Project
Record Book
Name:
__________________________________________
Address:
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
4-H Club:
__________________________________________
Project Leader: _______________________________________
Age: _______Number of Years Showing Steers: _____________
Record Started: _____________Record Closed: _____________
Month/Day/Year
Month/Day/Year
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WHY KEEP RECORDS?
This record is a part of your 4-H Market project work. By keeping records up to date
you will be able to see how much progress you make as you set goals and work to
accomplish them. Market livestock records must be entered for judging at the Mecosta
County Fair. Failure to turn in Market Records will disqualify market animals from
participating in the Mecosta County Junior Livestock Sale.
Keeping records on your project will:
•
•
•
•
•
Help you learn about animals, their rate of growth, the feed they require, the cost of
the feed, and their habits.
Help you plan future projects.
Let you know if you made or lost money – and how much.
Improve your management practices.
Give you a record of your project activities.
Objectives:
To let 4-H Members:
•
•
•
•
Experience the obligation and responsibility required in a livestock enterprise.
Experience and cope with the “values” and “attitudes” of responsibility.
Experience the marketing process and system, throughout sale of the product.
Experience competition through showing the animals at local area organization
sponsored shows, the fair, and statewide shows.
Project Pictures
Pictures are a required part of this record book. Taking pictures of your project
animal throughout the project will indicate how your animal has grown and developed.
Leaders Comments:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Leader’s Signature: ___________________________
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My Market Beef Steer Project Animal
Ear Tag Number: ____________
Breed: _____________________
Purchased (P)
or Raised (R)
Price/Value
Beginning Weight (A)
Finished Weight (B)
Amount of Gain
(Gain=B-A)
Ex: B=1200 lbs.
Ex: 1200-500= 700 lbs.
Date _________
Method _________
(tape, scale, or estimate)
Ex: P $600.00
Ex: A=500 lbs.
12/01/11 Scale
For Price/Value, use either the purchase price or the market value of the animals at the time of
your weight measurements.
Your Market Beef Steer Project Break Even Price
4-H animals are sold by the pound at our Junior Livestock Auction. Find out what bid price (per
pound) you need to get at the Junior Livestock Sale to break even on your 4-H Market Steer
Project.
Expenses on Market Animal:
__________________________ (pg. 5)
Purchase Price of Animal: (P or R) + __________________________ (written above)
TOTAL PROJECT EXPENSES:
$ __________________________ = TPE
Finished Weight of Animal:
__________________________ = FW
Break Even Price (BEP) = TPE / FW = __________________________ = cost per pound
(Total Project Expenses (TPE) divided by your Finished Weight (FW), equals your (BEP), cost per
pound to raise your market animal.)
Example: TPE = $1300.00 FW = 1200 lbs Calculate $1300 ÷ 1200 = $1.08 cost per lb.
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My 4-H Project Feed Record and Expenses
In this section, you will calculate your cost to feed your project animal. Record by months the amounts of feed purchased, weighed out, or fed during
each month. Brand names do not matter but content and cost do. Home grown feed should be listed according to fair market value. This report
should be for the animal you are planning to take to fair.
Feed Type
Prior to
December
Grain:
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Total
Pounds used
Cost of Feed (per lb.)
Monthly Cost
Concentrates
Pounds used
Cost of Feed (per lb.)
Monthly Cost
Minerals
Pounds used
Cost of Feed (per lb.)
Monthly Cost
Hay
Pounds used
Cost of Feed (per lb.)
Monthly Cost
MONTHY FEED TOTAL
TOTAL FEED
COST
Find the sum of your monthly
costs
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My 4-H Project Expenses
In this section, you will calculate your cost to prepare your market project for the fair and auction.
Expense Items
Pre
December
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Monthly Feed Total
(P. 4)
Veterinary Charges/
Medications
Bedding
Fitting & Showing
Supplies
Check-Off *
Trucking *
Marketing of Animal ** (Sale
Commission)
(FW x market price x 0.04)
Insurance *
Fair Pictures *
Ear Tag *
Monthly Totals
* Amounts are reported in Pre Fair Newsletter
** Finished Weight (FW) x market price (posted in barn fair week) x 0.04 (commission rate) animal
Example : 1200 lbs x $ 1.30 x 0.04 = $62.40
5
TOTAL EXPENSES
Project
Totals ($)
My 4-H Steer Project Photograph
A completed record book requires that you have a photograph of your market animal project. If
possible, a photo of you with your project is preferred. Please include a caption with your photo in the
space provided, and the date your photo was taken.
Date: __________________
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